Cosmetics bag

ABSTRACT

A cosmetics bag comprises a bottom part and a top part having a complementary common seam. The bottom party and top part are secured together along a part of the common seam, and further include a zipper or other securement mechanism for securing the bag in a closed configuration or for allowing the bag to transition into an open configuration. The bag is substantially a rectangular prism. The bag includes a removable brush cylinder, sized to fit standing upright inside the storage space formed when the bag is in a closed configuration. The bag further includes a stabilizer, which may be a flexible wall or compartment divider, to keep the brush cylinder in place and to keep it from tipping.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Application of cosmetics and/or other personal beauty or health products often requires multiple products, in multiple forms (e.g., lotion, creme, powder, tube, gloss, lipstick), and that are applied in varying ways (e.g., brush, tube (e.g., for lipstick), pad, applicator, spray, spritz, pen), and with varying cleanup requirements. This can result in an array of products with varying application styles for even a simple cosmetics application.

Although a home or a cosmetics studio may be well-equipped with all of the necessary products, application tools, and cleanup tools, it is often necessary to apply cosmetics in other locations that are not optimally equipped for cosmetics application, e.g., when traveling, or at a customer's, client's, or friend's preferred or needed location for cosmetics application. Under these circumstances, it may be necessary to pack and/or organize products, application tools, and/or cleanup supplies and tools for transportation and usability.

Numerous factors must be addressed when packing, organizing, transporting, unpacking, and/or using cosmetics: orientation (some items must be oriented a particular way and cannot be turned on their sides or upside down), fragile or delicate items (e.g., brush bristles must be protected from damage), spilling hazards, findability (avoiding losing items or having items be difficult to find in a storage/organization solution), and convenience for packing and unpacking. One item that can be particularly tricky to store, transport, unpack, and pack is makeup brushes. In many situations, it is desirable to carry, in a transportable cosmetics situation, a set of makeup brushes. Such a set of makeup brushes may include brushes of varying lengths, widths, shapes, bristle lengths, bristle densities, bristle stiffnesses, bristle materials, other features, and combinations of such features.

Unfortunately, many transportable cosmetics bags or other cosmetics storage/transportation solutions do not sufficiently protect one or more items, or do not properly maintain the orientation of one or more items, or are unnecessarily difficult to pack or unpack, or are not sufficiently durable, or do not keep one or more items in place or sufficiently organized, or are otherwise deficient in one or more of the measures described herein.

What is needed is an improved cosmetics bag or solution for storage and/or transportation of cosmetics items, tools, and supplies.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A cosmetics bag comprises a bottom part and a top part having a complementary common seam. The bottom party and top part are secured together along a part of the common seam, and further include a zipper or other securement mechanism for securing the bag in a closed configuration or for allowing the bag to transition into an open configuration. The bag is substantially a rectangular prism. The bag includes a removable brush cylinder, sized to fit standing inside the storage space formed when the bag is in a closed configuration. The bag further includes a stabilizer, which may be a flexible wall or compartment divider, to keep the brush cylinder in place and to keep it from tipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevated angle front view of an exemplary cosmetics bag in a closed configuration.

FIG. 2 is an elevated angle front view of an exemplary cosmetics bag in an open configuration.

FIG. 3 is a direct elevated view of an exemplary cosmetics bag in an open configuration.

FIG. 4 is an elevated read/side view of an exemplary cosmetics bag in a closed configuration.

FIG. 5 is an elevated read/side view of an exemplary cosmetics bag in an open configuration.

FIG. 6 is an elevated view of an exemplary brush cylinder.

FIG. 7 is an elevated angle front view of an exemplary cosmetics bag in an open configuration, including a brush cylinder.

FIG. 8 is an elevated read/side view of an exemplary cosmetics bag in an open configuration, including a brush cylinder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An improved cosmetics bag and organization system and method are disclosed.

Table of Reference Numbers from Drawings

The following table is for convenience only, and should not be construed to supersede any potentially inconsistent disclosure herein.

Reference Number Description 100 cosmetics bag 110 brush cylinder 115 sidewall of brush cylinder 116 top of brush cylinder 118 top part of brush cylinder 119 bottom part of brush cylinder 130 lid 135 lid seam 137 non-seam segment 140 handle 150 compartment divider system 160 zipper-closeable pocket on inside of lid

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, a cosmetics bag 100 may be dimensioned for a brush cylinder, and may further comprise other organization features.

A cosmetics bag 100 may comprise a removeable brush cylinder 110. Many brush cylinders are known in the art. In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, a removeable brush cylinder 110 may have a diameter of approximately 3.5 inches and a height of approximately 9.0 inches. Many brush cylinders of varying sizes, dimensions, and materials are known in the art.

Although a brush cylinder may be cylindrical, i.e., have a circular cross section, a brush storage container may have different shapes, e.g., square, other polygon, or an irregular cross section or even a varying cross section. In general, however, a cylindrical cross section is preferable for usability and for protection of brushes.

Brush cylinders may have different sizes. A person of ordinary skill will appreciate that a brush cylinder may scale and/or vary in one or more dimensions or in shape, and that the cosmetics bag and/or other elements of the cosmetics bag disclosed herein may scale and/or vary to accommodate brush cylinders of varying shapes and/or sizes. As disclosed herein, a brush cylinder having a 3.5 inch diameter and a height of 8.0 inches is standard and conventional for brush cylinders.

In one embodiment, brush cylinder 110 may have a rigid, or at least partially rigid, sidewall 115. Structural rigidity on sidewall 115—through either a sidewall 115 that is entirely rigid or a sidewall 115 with structural components to maintain shape rigidity—may generally maintain the cross-sectional shape of the brush cylinder 110 and/or prevent the brush cylinder 110 from collapsing or deforming (absent extreme external forces).

The top 116 and bottom 117 of brush cylinder 110 may be either rigid, flexible, or partially rigid. In one embodiment, top 116, bottom 117, and sidewall 115 of brush cylinder 110 are rigid or substantially rigid.

In one embodiment, brush cylinder 110 may comprise a complementary top part 118 part and bottom part 119 as shown in FIG. 6. The seam between top part 118 and bottom part 119 may be a lap joint as shown in FIG. 6. Brush cylinder 110 may include a securement mechanism for securing the bottom part to the top part. For example, brush cylinder 110 may include one or more snaps as shown in FIG. 6. Many brush cylinders with different opening and closing mechanisms and different securement mechanism are known in the art.

The cosmetics bag may have many shapes and or sizes. In one embodiment, cosmetics bag 100 is a rectangular prism with rounded corners, as shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 7-8. The rectangular cross section may be approximately 10.0 inches long and 6.0 inches wide. Cosmetics bag 100 may be 8.5 inches high.

Cosmetics bag 100 may be made from many materials, or combinations of materials, e.g., leather, plastic, fabric, cork, and/or any other material known in the art for a bag.

In one embodiment, cosmetics bag 100 may open and close using a lid system as shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 7-8. The lid system may comprise a partial seam that extends along a portion of the perimeter of a cross section of the cosmetics bag. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-5 and 7-8, lid 130 may result from a seam 135 that runs around the entire perimeter of cosmetics bag 100, except for a segment 137 of the perimeter on the back of bag 100 where lid 130 is secured to the bottom of bag 100. Segment 137 may be approximately 6.0 inches long. This connection segment 137 may comprise a hardware hinge, another type of hinge, a flexible/bendable material (e.g., leather, plastic, or fabric), a foldable material or component, or any other material, component, or solution for connecting lid 130 to the bottom of bag 100 while allowing lid 130 to fold open or rotate open relative to the bottom of bag 100.

The edge seam 135 on lid 130, including both the top and bottom of such seam, may comprise means for securing lid 130 to the bottom of bag 100 and/or for maintaining and/or locking bag 100 in a closed state. In one embodiment, the securing means may comprise a zipper. The zipper may comprise one pull that runs the entire length of seam 135, or may comprise two pulls that meet somewhere along seam 135. May types of zippers are known in the art. Other zipper configurations are also possible.

Other securement means may be used by themselves or in conjunction with a zipper. For example, one or more of a snap, latch, hook, hook-and-loop fastener, or other securement mechanism may be used to secure lid 130 to the bottom of bag 100 and/or maintain bag 100 in a closed state, while allowing for release of the securement mechanism to transition cosmetics bag 100 into an open or openable state.

In another embodiment, seam 135 may go all the way around the perimeter of bag 100 such that lid 130 is completely detachable from the bottom of bag 100. In this embodiment, lid 130 may be removed from the bottom of bag 100 by simply lifting lid 130. Lid 130 may be secured to the bottom of bag 100 by one or more of a snap, zipper, latch, hook, or other securement means, system, or hardware.

In one embodiment, seam 135 is located approximately 1.5 inches from the top of cosmetics bag 100. The distance from the top of the bag to the seam may vary. The further the seam is from the top of the bag, the more likely the edge of the lid is to catch on or other be obstructed by the contents of the bag when the lid is being opened/raised or lowered/closed. Additionally, placing the seam too far from the top of the bag may result in instability because of the weight of the lid in an open configuration.

In another embodiment, the distance from the top of the bag to the seam may be non-uniform around the perimeter of the bag.

The bag may include a handle for carrying. As shown in FIGS. 1, 4-5, and 8, a handle 140 may be secured to the top of bag 100. A handle or carrying solution may be secured to bag 100 in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, a handle 140 may facilitate carrying the bag in an upright orientation.

In one embodiment, the height dimension of the space on the inside of cosmetics bag 100 is slightly greater than the height of brush cylinder 110. Brush Cylinder 110 may thereby stand up comfortably inside cosmetics bag 100.

The internal compartment of the cosmetics bag may comprise a brush cylinder stabilizer for maintaining the brush cylinder in an upright orientation and for keeping the brush cylinder at a particular location or in a certain area in the internal compartment of the cosmetics bag.

In one embodiment, a brush cylinder stabilizer may comprise a wall system 150, as shown in FIGS. 2-3, 5, and 7-8 for dividing the internal space of cosmetics bag 100 into compartments or areas. As shown in FIGS. 2-3, 5, and 7-8, in some embodiments the wall system may be fully or partially removeable. In one embodiment, wall system 150 may be sufficiently rigid such that the wall system maintains its shape, compartment shapes, orientation, and compartment orientation when placed in bag 100, even when modest pressures are applied to compartment wall system 150.

In one embodiment, compartment wall 150 system may be secured, e.g., via hook-and-loop fastener, or snap(s), or latches, or other means, to one or more fixed locations on the internal wall of cosmetics bag 100. Securing the compartment divider system at one or more locations to the wall may provide rigidity, stability, and structure for the compartment divider system. FIGS. 2-3, 5, and 7-8 show an exemplary compartment divider system secured to the internal wall of cosmetics bag 100.

In one embodiment, compartment divider system 150 includes a compartment for brush cylinder 110, as shown in FIGS. 2-3, 5, and 7-8. The compartment for brush cylinder 110 may have a substantially circular shape or, if brush cylinder 110 is not circular, may have a have a shape that substantially tracks or conforms to the shape of brush cylinder 110.

The height of the walls comprising compartment divider system 150 may vary. In one embodiment, the walls comprising or formed by compartment divider system 150 may be substantially the same height as the height of the internal space in cosmetics bag 100. In another embodiment the walls may be of varying heights, and/or may be uniform or different levels from the bottom of the cosmetics bag. The walls comprising the compartment divider system may also be straps instead of walls. The height and/or pattern of a particular wall comprising compartment divider system 150 may depend on one or more factors, including but not limited to the height of an item anticipated to be stored in a particular compartment (for a shorter item, a shorter wall may be more desirable and/or convenient because a taller wall may make it more difficult to insert a hand or fingers into the compartment to retrieve and/or place an item). For items for which it may be possible for the bottom of the item to slip or slide, it may be desirable for the wall to reach to or close to the floor of cosmetics bag 100, so that the item cannot slip or slide under the wall. For taller items, a shorter wall may be undesirable, inconvenient, and/or ineffective because items may tip over the wall and into other compartments or obstruct other items or access to other items, or items may tip over and fall out of the desired or original compartment. Additionally, the height of a wall or set of walls in compartment divider system 150 may depend on the size of the area bounded by the walls.

In general, the walls comprising compartment dividing system 150 may have heights, patterns, bottoms, and tops that depend on the design of the bag and the items anticipated to be stored in the bag, including in a particular compartment.

In some embodiments, one or more of the walls comprising the compartment dividing system may not be strictly vertical, or may not have a uniform vertical orientation across all walls. In general, walls comprising the compartment dividing system may be designed to accommodate items of many different shapes, sizes, orientations, weights, weight distributions, and/or other characteristics.

As described herein above, in one embodiment the walls of the compartment divider system may have a uniform height that is substantially the height of the internal space of the cosmetics bag.

As shown in FIGS. 2-3, 5, and 7-8, compartment divider system 150 may be made of a flexible material so that it is collapsible and/or foldable, e.g., fabric, nylon, or other material. Compartment divider system 150 may be partially rigid so that it stands up absent external forces, but is reversibly foldable or collapsible without damaging the compartment divider system.

The back wall of cosmetics bag 100 may include a back compartment sized for two or three full-sized face or eye shadow palettes.

Compartment divider system 150 further creates an open storage space that may be used for a variety of items, e.g., bottles, etc.

The front wall of bag 100 may include two deep pockets for smaller items, e.g., mascara, lip liner, tweezers, and lash curlers.

The inside of lid 130 may include a zipper-closeable pocket 160 for smaller items, e.g., rings, jewelry, etc.

In one embodiment, cosmetics bag 100 has a substantially flat bottom and sides that are sufficiently rigid and secured to the bottom in such a manner that cosmetics bag 100 stands up by default unless a force, which may be a substantial force, is applied to the cosmetics bag. Features to maintain the upright orientation of the bag may be important because cosmetics bag 100 may be store items that cannot tip, or that would spill if tipped. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A storage apparatus, comprising: a bottom part and a top part, wherein the bottom part and the top part include complementary respective seams that, when adjacent, form an internal storage space; a securement mechanism for securing the bottom part to the top part along at least a portion of the complementary respective seams; a removable internal container having a height dimension less than the height dimension of the internal storage space; and a stabilizer for the removable internal container.
 2. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the securement mechanism for securing the bottom part to the top part along at least a portion of the complementary respective seams comprises a zipper.
 3. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the top part and the bottom part are secured along a secured segment of the complementary respective seams; the top part folds or rotates along the secured segment to transition the storage apparatus from a closed configuration to an open configuration.
 4. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the internal container is cylindrical; the removable internal container stabilizer is cylindrical and shaped to complement a cross section of the removable brush cylinder.
 5. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shape of the storage apparatus in the closed configuration is substantially a rectangular prism comprising a rectangular bottom and a height, having: a rectangular bottom width greater than 5.5 inches and less than 6.5 inches; a rectangular bottom length greater than 9.25 inches and less than 10.5 inches; and a height greater than 7.75 inches and greater than 8.75 inches.
 6. The storage apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a configurable internal compartment divider system.
 7. The storage apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage apparatus is made at least in part from a semi-rigid material.
 8. A bag, comprising: a bottom part and a top part, wherein the bottom part and the top part are secured along a secured segment of the include complementary respective seams that, when adjacent, form an internal storage space; a zipper for securing the bottom part to the top part along the complementary respective seams; a removable brush container having a height dimension less than the height dimension of the internal storage space; and a brush container stabilizer secured to the interior of the bottom part and shaped to complement the shape of a cross section of the removable brush container; wherein the top part folds or rotates along the secured segment to transition the storage apparatus from a closed configuration to an open configuration.
 9. The bag of claim 8, wherein the removable brush container is a removable brush cylinder.
 10. The bag of claim 8, wherein the shape of the bag in the closed configuration is substantially a rectangular prism comprising a rectangular bottom and a height, having: a rectangular bottom width greater than 5.5 inches and less than 6.5 inches; a rectangular bottom length greater than 9.25 inches and less than 10.5 inches; and a height greater than 7.75 inches and greater than 8.75 inches.
 11. The bag of claim 8, wherein the height of the brush container is at least 90% of the height of the internal storage space.
 12. The bag of claim 11, wherein: the longest dimension of a cross section of the removable brush container is approximately 3.5 inches; and the height of the brush container is approximately 8.0 inches.
 13. The bag of claim 8, wherein the removable brush container is rigid.
 14. The bag of claim 8, further comprising a cosmetics palettes storage pouch on an interior wall of the bottom part.
 15. The bag of claim 8, further comprising a configurable compartment divider system.
 16. The bag of claim 8, wherein the bag is made out of a semi-rigid material.
 17. The bag of claim 8, wherein the shape of the bag is structurally stable.
 18. A bag, comprising: a bottom part and a top part, wherein the bottom part and the top part are secured along a secured segment of the complementary respective seams that, when adjacent, form an internal storage space; a zipper for securing the bottom part to the top part along the complementary respective seams; a removable brush cylinder having a height dimension less than the height dimension of the internal storage space; and a brush container stabilizer secured to the interior of the bottom part and shaped to complement the shape of a cross section of the removable brush container; wherein: the removable brush cylinder is rigid; the height of the removable brush cylinder is approximately 8.0 inches. the top part folds or rotates along the secured segment to transition the storage apparatus from a closed configuration to an open configuration; the shape of the bag in the closed configuration is substantially a rectangular prism comprising a rectangular bottom and a height, having: a rectangular bottom width greater than 5.5 inches and less than 6.5 inches; a rectangular bottom length greater than 9.25 inches and less than 10.5 inches; and a height greater than 7.75 inches and greater than 8.75 inches; the diameter of the cross section of the removable brush cylinder is approximately 3.5 inches; and the shape of the bag is structurally stable. 